TRAVERSE CITY — Cherry Capital Airport’s CEO says the airport’s growth has proven to the FAA that they need an expansion.
TVC was named the No. 1 airport for growth in the summer of 2024, and the airport’s economic impact is more than $1 billion, but they say new additions could add more.
“I expect our economic benefit for the area to just...continue to grow. Could be $1.5 billion, could be $2 billion in the years to come on this new concourse,” said CEO Kevin Klein.
When you come to Cherry Capital Airport it may be pretty packed, but with the potential new changes, there will be more options for travel.
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“It’s now becoming what we’ve talked about for the last couple of years. We’ve had concepts that look like boxes on a drawing. Now they’re starting to take a little bit of shape,” said Klein.
Designs are up in the air, but the main focus right now is to get funding for a new concourse. It’s estimated to be $120 million dollars. The next step is to meet with Leelanau and Grand Traverse County’s Commissions.
“Traverse City is located within Grand Traverse County...so legally, only Grand Traverse County could back the bonds. And that’s a question the commissioners are going to have to take up,” said Rob Hentshel, Grand Traverse County commission chair.
Taxpayers will want to know how this will impact them.
“It’s not going to have a direct effect because the county itself is not paying these bonds. These will be paid through the rental to the airlines, rental to the car rentals, the parking lot, all those things that generate revenue at the airport,” said Hentshel.
The airport currently has five gates, but Klein hopes they can get to nine. There are also other changes needed.
“Some of the things inside the building that need to expand...behind the ticket counters and where they do the in-line security searches of bag checked bags,” he said.
The Northwest Regional Airport Authority will be meeting with both counties on Oct. 14.